Music Minor
Admission Requirements
All students seeking a Music Minor must demonstrate musical background and the strengths in performance and/or composition necessary for successful completion of the stated curriculum. Admission into Biola University does not guarantee admission into the Conservatory as a Music Minor. A student will be admitted to the Conservatory of Music after:
- Meeting requirements for University admission.
- Completing a Conservatory application with the required number of references.
- Completing a Conservatory audition.
After acceptance and upon entrance, students will be assessed with regard to their performance levels. They will also be given the option to take placement surveys in musicianship, written theory, and/or keyboard skills, or they may simply choose to begin their studies at the introductory level. Specific information concerning the content of these surveys and suggestions for preparation are available by contacting the Conservatory Office.
For those students interested in a formal, cohesive music curriculum but who are not interested in music as a major, a Music Minor is available. The Music Minor requires 21 credits, at least 6 of which must be upper-division.
To add a Music Minor, a application to the Conservatory of Music and an audition is required. Contact the Conservatory Office for details.
GPA Requirements
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in the minor and receive a minimum grade of C in each required music course.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| MUSC 118 | Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 |
| or MUSC 261 | Keyboard Sight Reading I | |
| MUSC 1401-1433 | Applied Music 2 | 4 |
| MUSC 153 | Musicianship I 3 | 1 |
| MUSC 154 | Theory I 4 | 3 |
| MUSC 160 | Essential Technologies for Musicians I | 1 |
| or MUSC 170 | Essential Technologies for Musicians II | |
| MUSC 200 | Performing Arts Forum 5 | 2 |
| MUSC 275 | Music Area Seminar 6 | 0 |
| Ensemble Courses 7 | ||
| Select 2 credits of ensembles, as appropriate to applied principal, from the following: | 2 | |
| Biola Chorale | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Symphonic Winds | ||
| Vocal Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Women's Chorus | ||
| Worship and Popular Music Ensemble | ||
| Men's Chorus | ||
| Biola String Quartet | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
| Brass Quintet | ||
| Chamber Music | ||
| Secondary Chamber Music | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| New Music Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Opera and Musical Production | ||
| Select 7 credits from the following electives: 7 | 7 | |
| Biola Chorale 8 | ||
or MUSC 003 | Symphony Orchestra | |
or MUSC 007 | Jazz Ensemble | |
or MUSC 008 | Symphonic Winds | |
or MUSC 010 | Vocal Jazz Ensemble | |
or MUSC 011 | University Chorus | |
or MUSC 012 | Women's Chorus | |
or MUSC 013 | Worship and Popular Music Ensemble | |
or MUSC 014 | Men's Chorus | |
or MUSC 1201 | Biola String Quartet | |
or MUSC 1202 | Brass Ensemble | |
or MUSC 1203 | Brass Quintet | |
or MUSC 1204 | Chamber Music | |
or MUSC 1205 | Secondary Chamber Music | |
or MUSC 1206 | Guitar Ensemble | |
or MUSC 1208 | Jazz Combo | |
or MUSC 1212 | New Music Ensemble | |
or MUSC 1213 | Percussion Ensemble | |
or MUSC 1304 | Opera/Musical Scenes | |
or MUSC 390 | Opera and Musical Production | |
| Essential Technologies for Musicians I | ||
or MUSC 170 | Essential Technologies for Musicians II | |
| Musicianship II | ||
| Theory II | ||
| Performing Arts Forum 8 | ||
| History of Film Music | ||
| Music Education: Brass | ||
| Music Education: Percussion | ||
| Music Education: Strings | ||
| Music Education: Woodwinds | ||
MUSC 4401-4433 | Applied Music | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
MUSC 118 is for non-keyboard minors. Students may opt to take the Keyboard Placement Survey or will automatically be placed in the introductory-level course (MUSC 100). If Piano is your primary instrument, enroll in MUSC 261.
- 2
Must take 4 credits in principal instrument, composition or voice, through proficiency level 224. Sophomore B.A. music degree proficiency required. See Conservatory Office for standards description.
- 3
Students may take the Musicianship Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Musicianship requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 153 Musicianship I. Musicianship courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.
- 4
Students may take the Theory Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of their Theory requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in MUSC 154 Theory I. The first two semesters of Written Theory courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.
- 5
Two semesters required.
- 6
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 7
Between ensembles and MUSC electives, at least 6 credits must be upper-division.
- 8
Must be taken an additional time for credit.
